Holder for a Cleaning Implement

ABSTRACT

A holder for a cleaning implement is provided. The holder includes a plurality of side walls each having a plurality of openings for allowing airflow therethrough, a bottom wall, and a lid hingedly attached to an upper edge of one of the plurality of side walls. The plurality of side walls, bottom wall, and lid define a compartment for receiving and storing a cleaning implement, such as a sponge, scrubbing pad, etc. The holder could be provided in an upright configuration, wherein first and second storage compartments are provided in front-to-back relationship, each compartment storing a cleaning implement in an upright position. Lids could be provided on the first and second storage compartments, and hingedly attached thereto. A third compartment could be provided for storing a brush in an upright position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a holder for cleaning implements, such as sponges, scrubbing pads, etc.

2. Related Art

Cleaning implements of various types, shapes, and sizes are often used in kitchens, bathrooms, and other locations for cleaning purposes. For example, in many kitchens, sponges, scrubbing pads, and the like are used to clean pots, pans, dishes, bowls, counter surfaces, etc. Such cleaning implements are usually wetted prior to and during use, and are left on a surface to dry after use. Unfortunately, such implements may not adequately dry if left on a flat surface, such as a kitchen countertop or sink, because the bottom surface of the implement remains in contact with the surface of the countertop or sink. This can lead to contamination of the cleaning implement and the corresponding surface on which it rests through growth of bacteria, mold, etc. Additionally, when a cleaning implement is left out on the surface of a kitchen sink or sponge, it is unsightly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a holder for a cleaning implement. The holder includes a plurality of side walls each having a plurality of openings for allowing airflow therethrough, a bottom wall, and a lid hingedly attached to an upper edge of one of the plurality of side walls. The plurality of side walls, bottom wall, and lid define a compartment for receiving and storing a cleaning implement, such as a sponge, scrubbing pad, etc. An internal wall could be provided for dividing the compartment into first and second sub-compartments, each for receiving and storing a cleaning implement. The holder could be provided in an upright configuration, wherein first and second storage compartments are provided in front-to-back relationship, each compartment storing a cleaning implement in an upright position. The height of each compartment could be different and each compartment could have a separate lid. The lids could be hingedly attached on each compartment. A third compartment could be provided for storing a brush in an upright position. Optionally, feet could be provided on the bottom of the holder for supporting the holder in position above a surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing features of the invention will be apparent from the following Detailed Description of the Invention, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the holder of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the holder of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is side view of the holder of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the holder of the present invention, taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the holder of the present invention, showing two sub-compartments for holding a sponge and a scrubbing pad;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the holder of the present invention, shown with optional feet for supporting the holder above a surface;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an upright embodiment of the holder of the present invention;

FIGS. 8-9 are front views of the holder of FIG. 7;

FIGS. 10-11 are side views of the holder of FIG. 7;

FIG. 12 is a front view of another embodiment of the holder of the present invention, which includes a compartment for holding a brush; and

FIGS. 13A-13D are side views of the holder of the present invention, showing openings in the side walls having various shapes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a holder, as discussed in detail below in connection with FIGS. 1-13D. By the term “cleaning implement,” it is meant sponges, scrubbing pads, scouring pads, cleaning brushes, etc., typically used in a kitchen or bathroom for cleaning purposes.

FIGS. 1-3 are perspective, top, and side views, respectively, of the holder of the present invention, indicated generally at 10. The holder 10 includes a lid 12 having a top wall 14 with a plurality of openings, side walls 16, and a bottom wall 20. The lid 12, and side walls 16, and bottom wall 20 define a compartment 18 (see FIG. 3) for receiving a cleaning implement. The openings in the top wall 14 and the side walls 16 allow air to flow through the holder 10, which facilitates air drying of a cleaning implement positioned within the compartment 18. As shown, the top wall 14 and side walls 16 could include a decorative, aesthetically pleasing pattern or design, which could be varied as desired. The bottom wall 20 could be solid, or it could also include openings. The holder 10 could be fabricated from metal, plastic, ceramic, etc., or any suitable material. Preferably, such material resists corrosion. Also, the walls 14, 16 could be formed from a mesh material, or they could be solid.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, the top wall 14 of the lid 12 could be surrounded by solid peripheral edges 24 to provide a border effect around the top wall 14 and to provide rigidity for the top wall 14. The edges 24 could be rounded, if desired. As shown in FIG. 3, the lid 12 could be hingedly coupled to an upper edge of one of the side walls 16 by a hinge 26, so that the lid 12 can be opened and closed by pivoting it in the direction indicated by arrow A. This allows for easy access to the compartment 18, so that a cleaning implement can be easily inserted into and removed from the compartment 18. When closed, the lid 12 rests on upper edges of the side walls 16. Of course, the lid 12 need not be hingedly coupled, and could be completely removable from the holder 10 and rest in place on the holder 10 when positioned thereon. In such circumstances, the hinge 26 need not be provided. The side walls 16 could also include optional, solid, peripheral edges 28, similar to the peripheral edges 24 of the lid 12, discussed above with reference to FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the holder of the present invention, taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1. As can be seen, the inner compartment 18 is sized and shaped to receive a cleaning implement 30, such as a sponge. The size and shape of the holder 10 could be varied as desired to accommodate cleaning implements having various shapes and sizes.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the holder of the present invention, showing two sub-compartments 18 a, 18 b for holding first and second cleaning implements 30 and 34, respectively, such as a sponge and a scrubbing pad. An internal wall 32 divides the compartment 18 into the sub-compartments 18 a, 18 b. In this arrangement, the lid 12 of FIGS. 1-4 covers both sub-compartments 18 a, 18 b. It is noted that any desired number of compartments could be provided, e.g., three or more compartments, each of which receives and stores a cleaning implement. Similarly, one or more lids may be provided. The internal wall 32 could be solid, or it could include openings to facilitate air flow therethrough.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the holder 10 of the present invention, shown with optional feet 36 for supporting the holder above a surface. The feet 36 could be sized and shaped so as to provide any desired, aesthetically-pleasing appearance. The feet 36 could be welded, glued, or otherwise attached to the bottom wall 20, or they could be formed integrally therewith.

FIGS. 7-8 are perspective and front views, respectively, of an upright embodiment of the holder of the present invention, indicated generally at 100. The holder includes a first lid 102 with an angled portion 104, side walls 106, a hinge 108 pivotably coupling the first lid 102 to an upper edge of one of the side walls 106, a second lid 112 with an angled portion 114, and a second hinge 116 (see FIG. 8) pivotably coupling the second lid 112 to an upper area of one of the side walls 106. The holder 100 includes a first upright compartment 110 for holding a larger cleaning implement (e.g., a sponge), and a second compartment 118 for holding a smaller cleaning implement (e.g., a scrubbing sponge). As can be seen, the compartments 110 and 118 are positioned in front-to-back relationship, and are divided by an internal wall 111, which could be solid or include openings to facilitate air flow. The lids 102 and 112, as well as the walls 106, could include openings and could be formed from the same material as the walls of the holder 10 discussed above with reference to FIGS. 1-6, or they could be solid. A bottom wall 120 is also provided, which could also include openings or could be solid. As can be seen, the lids 102 and 112, as well as the walls 106, could include a decorative, aesthetically pleasing pattern which permits air flow into the compartments 110 and 118.

FIGS. 8-9 are front views of the holder 100 of FIG. 7, respectively. As can be seen in FIG. 8, when the lids 102 and 112 are closed, the appearance of a continuous wall is provided. As shown in FIG. 9, when the lids 102 and 112 are opened, access is provided to the inner compartments 110 and 118, so that cleaning implements (e.g., a sponge 130 and a scrubbing pad 131) can be easily accessed.

FIGS. 10-11 are side views of the holder 100 of FIG. 7. As shown in FIG. 10, the lids 102 and 112 can be opened and closed in the directions indicated by arrows B and C. Also, as shown in FIG. 11, the lids 102 and 112 could be provided without the angled portions 104 and 114, i.e., the lids 102 and 112 could be shaped so that they are flat, and positioned so that they cover top openings 122 and 124 of the compartments 110 and 118. Also, it is noted that the holder 100 could include feet for supporting the holder 100 above a surface, such as the feet 36 discussed above in connection with FIG. 6.

FIG. 12 is a front view of another embodiment of the holder of the present invention, indicated generally at 200. The holder 200 is similar to the holder 100 discussed above in connection with FIGS. 7-11, in that it includes two, front-to-back compartments for holding cleaning implements in an upright position. The holder 200 includes lids 202 and 212 with angled portions 204 and 214, and hinges 208 and 216 joining the lids 202 and 212 to upper edges or upper areas of the side walls 206 of the holder 200. A third compartment 222 is provided for holding a brush 224 (e.g., a scrub brush for scrubbing pots and pans, etc.). The walls of the holder 200, including the walls of the compartment 222, could include openings and be manufactured from the same materials discussed above (which could include the decorative patterns shown in FIG. 12), or they could be solid. Feet could also be provided on the holder 200, such as the feet 36 discussed above in connection with FIG. 6.

The openings in the walls of the holder of the present invention could have any desired shape or configuration. Examples of such shapes/configurations are shown in FIGS. 13A-13D. As shown therein, the holder 300 includes side walls 302 having openings 304 of various shapes, such as upright, generally I-shaped openings connected at the bottom (see FIG. 13A), “zig-zag” shaped openings (see FIG. 13B), peripheral openings (see FIG. 13C), or a generally H-shaped openings (see FIG. 13D). The shapes and positions of such openings can be varied as desired.

Having thus described the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the foregoing description is not intended to limit the spirit or scope thereof. What is desired to be protected is set forth in the following claims. 

1. A holder for holding a cleaning implement, comprising: a plurality of side walls each having a decorative pattern including a plurality of openings for allowing air to flow through the side walls; a solid bottom wall connected to lower edges of the plurality of side walls; and a lid positionable to rest on upper edges of the plurality of sidewalls, wherein the plurality of sidewalls, the bottom wall, and the lid define a compartment for storing a cleaning implement.
 2. The holder of claim 1, wherein the lid includes a decorative pattern including a plurality of openings for allowing air to pass through the lid.
 3. The holder of claim 1, further comprising an internal wall dividing the compartment into first and second sub-compartments.
 4. The holder of claim 3, wherein the lid covers the first and second sub-compartments when the lid is in a closed position.
 5. The holder of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of feet on the bottom wall for supporting the holder above a surface.
 6. The holder of claim 1, further comprising a hinge interconnecting the lid with an upper area of one of the plurality of side walls so that the lid is pivotable between open and closed positions.
 7. A holder for holding a plurality of cleaning implements, comprising: a first compartment for holding a first cleaning implement in an upright position, the first compartment defined at least in part by a first plurality of side wall and an inner wall; a second compartment adjacent to the first compartment for holding a second cleaning implement in an upright position, the second compartment defined at least in part by a second plurality of side walls and the inner wall; a bottom wall connected to lower edges of the first and second pluralities of side walls; a first lid hingely interconnected with an upper area of one of the first plurailty of sidewalls, the first lid positionable to close the first compartment; and a second lid hingedly interconnected with an upper edge of one of the second plurality of sidewalls, the second lid positionable to close the second compartment, wherein the first and second pluralities of sidewalls include openings for facilitating air flow into the first and second compartments.
 8. The holder of claim 7, wherein the first and second lids each include an angled portion.
 9. The holder of claim 7, wherein the first and second lids each include a plurality of openings for allowing air to pass into the first and second compartments.
 10. The holder of claim 7, wherein at least one of the first plurality of side walls, the second plurality of sidewalls, or the lid includes a decorative pattern.
 11. The holder of claim 7, further comprising a third compartment adjacent to one of the first or second compartments for storing a brush in an upright position.
 12. The holder of claim 11, wherein the third compartment includes openings for allowing air flow into the third compartment.
 13. The holder of claim 11, wherein sidewalls of the third compartment include a decorative pattern.
 14. The holder of claim 11, wherein the first and second lids each include an angled portion.
 15. A method for holding a cleaning implement, comprising the steps of: providing a holder having a plurality of side walls, a solid bottom wall, and a lid positionable to rest on upper edges of the plurality of side walls; opening the lid; positioning a cleaning implement into the holder so that the cleaning implement rests on the solid bottom wall; closing the lid; and allowing air to pass through the plurality of side walls of the holder to dry the cleaning implement.
 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising allowing air to pass through the lid to dry the cleaning implement.
 17. A method for holding a plurality of cleaning implements, comprising the steps of: providing a holder having first and second storage compartments in front-to-back relationship; positioning a first cleaning implement in an upright position in the first storage compartment; positioning a second cleaning implement in an upright position in the second storage compartment; and allowing air to pass through the first and second storage compartments to dry the first and second cleaning implements.
 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of closing lids on the first and second storage compartments after positioning the first and second cleaning implements in the first and second compartments.
 19. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of providing the holder comprises providing a holder having first and second storage compartments in front-to-back relationship and a third compartment attached to a side of one of the first or second storage compartments.
 20. The method of claim 18, further comprising positioning a third cleaning implement in an upright position in the third storage compartment and allowing the third cleaning implement to dry. 